Ordnance breech mechanism



A. T. DAWSON AND G. T. BUCKHANT.

ORDNANCE BREECH MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FlLED ocT. 26. T921.

1,422,03?. Patented July A1, 1922.

Ntra stars FTE ARTHUR Tranvoa DAWSON AND GEORGE Trier/ras BUOKHAM, or WEsTMrNs'rEa,

LONDON, ENGLAND, AssiGNOn-s fro vrcKnRs LIMITED, or WESTMINSTER, LON- DON, ENGLAND.

Specification of Letters Patent.

rammed July la, 1922.

Application lcd October 26, 1921. Serial No. 510,656.

To @ZZ t0/Om if; may concern.:

Be it known that we, Sir ARTHUR Tnnvon DAwsoN, bart., and Sir Grenen 'fiioMAs BUCKHAM, knight,both subjects of the King of Great Britain, residing-at Vickers House, Broadway, l/Vestminster, in the county of London, England, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in cr Relating t0 Ordnance Breech Mechanism, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to ordnance breech mechanism. of the kind comprising two cranks mounted in the'breech screw carrier and driven through bevel gearing from the axis pin or hinge bolt lof the carrier, one of these cranks serving to unlock the breech screw and the other serving to withdraw the breech screw rearwardly in the carrier before being swung clear of the breech opening by the movement of the carrier about its axis pin or hinge bolt; the chief object of the invention is to improve the breech mechanism disclosed in the specification of our prior British Patent No. 7189 of 1914.

According to the present invention the breech screw withdrawing crank, instead of engaging with the side of the breech screw as is the case in our previous breech mechanism referred to above, engages -with the lower part of. the breech screw preferably at a point more'or less .immediately beneath the centre line of the breech screw and for this purpose may be carried at or near the inner end of va transverse horizontal shaft the outer end of which carries a bevel pinion meshing with a bevel pinion on the carrier axis pin. The breech screw unlocking cra-nk is arranged below a. horizontal plane containing the axis of the gun and engages in a slot formed in a lug which when the breech screw is in the locked position, extends downwardly atan angle to the said horizontal plane. The bevel pinion of the withdrawing crank meshes with a. bevel pinion appertaining to the unlocking crank so that the latter is operated from the carrier axis pin through the bevel pinion of the withdrawing crank.

In order that the said invention may be clearly understood and readily carried into effect the same will now be described more fully with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:--

Figures 1 and 2 are respectively a rear elevation and a side elevation illustrating breech mechanism constructed in accordance with our invention, the mechanism being shewn closed and locked in these figures.

Figures la and 2a are diagrammatic views shewing the manner in which the unlocking crank and the withdrawing crank operate, and

Figures 3, 4L- and 5 are respectively a sectional rear elevation, a sectional side elevation and a sectional plan shewing clearly the manner in which the unlocking crank and the withdrawing crank are driven.

A isthe breech end of the gun, B the breech screw, C the-carrier and CX the carricr axis pin or hinge bolt. D is the unlocking crank which forms an integral part of a bevel pinion D (see Figure 2). E is the ,withdrawing crank and e is the transverse horizontal shaft the inner end of which carries the said withdrawing crank and the outer end of which carries a bevel pinion E meshing with a bevel pinion C on the carrier axis pin CX and also meshing with the bevel pinion D appertaining to t-he unlocking crank D. The withdrawing crank is thus operated through the bevel pinions C, E and the unlocking crank is operated through the bevel pinions C, E and D.

The withdrawing crank E has a roller EX adapted to engage in a slot BX in the lower Ypart of the breech screw B and the unlocking crank D has a roller DX engaging in a slot FX in a lug F on a ring F in which the breech screw is slidably mounted as is well understood. The said unlocking crank is arranged below a horizontal plane containing the axis of the gun and the lug F', when the breech screw is in the locked position, extends downwardly at an angle to the said horizontal plane.

In the locked-condition of the breech mechanism, the cranks D, E and their associated parts occupy the position shewn (see particularly Figures la and 2a) with the roller D of the unlocking crank engaging in the lslot F and the roller EX of the withdrawduring which time the crank D is performing an idle movement. Ihe-n the breech screw is fully withdrawn the carrier is swung into the open position by any suitable means. During the closing of the breech the reverse operations take place.

By reason ot our improvements we obtain increased steadiness during withdrawal ot the breech screw and a decreased distance between the carrier axis pin and the centre line of the gun as compared with other breech mechanisms of this type.

Vhat we claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is l. In ordnance breech mechanism, the combination with thei breech screw, the swinging carrier in which said breech screw is mounted, and the axis pin of said carrier, of a breech screw withdrawing crank arranged to engage with the breech screw at a point substantially beneath the center line of the breech screw, a breech screw unlocking crank arranged with its axis in substantially the same horizontal plane as the axis of the withdrawing crank and means for operating said cranks from the carrier axis pin.

2. In ordnance breech mechanism, the combination with the breech screw, the swinging carrier in which said breech screw is mounted, and the axis pin of said carrier, of a breech screw unlocking crank whose axis is arranged a substantial distance below a horizontal plane containing the axis of the gun, a member having a slot with which said crank is adapted to engage, said slot, when the breech screw is in the locked position, extending downwardly at an angle to the said horizontal plane, a breech screw withdrawing crank, and means Jfor operating said cranks from the carrier axis pin.

3. In ordnance breech mechanism, the combination with the breech screw the swinging carrier in which said breech screw is mounted and the axis pin or' said carrier, of a breech screw unlocking crank whose axis is arranged a substantial distance below horizontal plane containing the axis of the gun, a member having a slot with which said crank is adapted to engage, said slot, when the breech screw is in the locked position, extending downwardly at an angle to the said horizontal plane,'a breech screw withdrawing crank bevel gearing for operating said cranks from the carrier axis pin.

4. In ordnance breech mechanism, the combination with the breech screw, the swinging carrier in which said breech screw is mounted and the axis pin of said carrier, of a breech screw unlocking crank arranged below a. horizontal plane containing the axis of the gun, a member having a slot with which said crank is adapted to engage, said slot, when the breech screw is in the locked,

position, extending downwardly at an angle to the said horizontal plane, a breech screw withdrawing crank arranged to enga-ge with the breech screw at a point substantially beneath the centre line of the breech screw and means for operating said cranks from the carrier axis pin.

In ordnance breech mechanism, the combination with the breech screw, the swinging carrier in whichsaid breech screw is mounted and the axis pin of said carrier, of ai breech screw unlocking crank arranged below a horizontal plane containing the axis of the gun, a member having a slot with which said crank is adapted to engage, said slot, when the breech screw is in the locked position, extending downwardly at an angle to the said horizontal plane, a breech screw withdrawing crank arranged to engage with the breech screw at a. point substantially beneath the centre line of the breech screw and bevel gea-ring for operating said cranks from the carrier axis pin.

6. In ordnance breech mechanism, the combination with the breech screw, the swinging carrier in which said breech screw is mounted and the axis pin of said carrier, of a breech screw unlocking crank, a breech screw withdrawing crank, means for operyating the withdrawing crank from the carrier axis pin, and means for operating the unlocking crank from the withdrawing crank.

7. In ordnance breech mechanism, the- Vswinging carrier in which said breech screw is mounted and the axis pin of said carrier, oiE a breech screw unlocking crank arranged below a horizontal plane containing the axis or the gun, a member having a slot with which said crank is adapted to engage, said slot. when the breech screw is in the locked position, extending downwardly at an angle to the said horizontal plane, a breech screw withdrawing crank arranged to enga-ge with the ,breech screw at al point substantially be neath the centre line of the breech screw, means for operating the withdrawing crank 'r'rom the carrier axis pin, and means for operating the unlocking crank from the withdrawing crank.

9. In ordnance breech mechanism, the combination. with the breech screw, the

swinging carrier in which said breech screw is mounted and the axis pin of said carrier, o a breech screw unlocking crank arranged below a horizontal plane containing the axis of the gun, a member having a slot with which said crank is adapted to engage, said slot. when the breech screw is in the locked position7 extending downwardly at an angle to the said horizontal plane, a breech screw l0 withdrawing crank arranged to engage with the breech screw at a point substantially beneath the centre line of the breech screw, a bevel pinion connected to said withdrawing crank, a bevel pinion on the carrier axis pin meshing with the first-mentioned pinion and la bevel pinion connected to said unlocking crank, the last mentioned pinion meshing with the pinion of the withdrawing crank.

ARTHUR TREVOR DAVVSON. GEORGE THOMAS BUCKHAM.

i-mi-m-W-llll- 

